More In Your Life

Fest inspired by loss of greats

File Photo - Greg Allman performs at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Catoosa, Oka. On Saturday, May 27, 2017, a publicist said the musician, the singer for The Allman Brothers Band, has died.Tom Gilbert/Tulsa World via AP

FRANKFORD -- There will be serious undertones to the eighth annual Rock, Ribs and Ridges music and food festival, but festers may be in for some of the best, most-inspired live music yet as a result.

The recent deaths of southern rock pioneers Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks will surely be on the minds of everyone attending and performing at the June 24-25 festival, known far and wide for its southern flavor, at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

The 2017 bash features nine bands, including Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Daniels, Blackberry Smoke, The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, Marshall Tucker Band and The Kentucky Headhunters, who took the place of Butch Trucks and the Freight Train Band in this year's lineup after Trucks committed suicide Jan. 24.

"That was a big blow. But we were able to get The Kentucky Headhunters and they're going to do a tribute to Butch," said festival producer Howard Freeman, of Promo 1 in Fairfield.

"I think Charlie (Daniels) and Marshall Tucker are also going to do something (for Gregg and Butch)," he said.

Allman and Trucks, of course, were founding members of the Allman Brothers Band, one of the first and most innovative southern rock bands, in 1969. Allman died May 27.

"I was a huge Allman Brothers fan. We were pretty proud to have Butch coming to our festival," Freeman said, describing a thread from his college days that directly impacts his festival today.

"I went to college in Albany the '70s and the first band that came through was the Allman Brothers. Then the next year, Charlie Daniels opened for them. Then the next year Marshall Tucker opened for Charlie. Then the next year the New Riders opened for Marshall Tucker."

All those bands, except for the Allman Brothers, have played Rock, Ribs and Ridges.

Presented by Franklin Sussex Auto Mall, Rock, Ribs and Ridges offers two days of music, barbecue by award-winning ribbers and craft beer provided by Kohler.

"We have ribbers from around the country. This year we're adding wings. If you don't like ribs, we have Mr. Crabby's coming back. We're planning on catering to everybody," Freeman said.

Barbecue fans will have the opportunity to enjoy great food throughout the weekend including ribs, brisket, pulled pork, wings, lobster rolls, crab cakes and side dishes from top pitmasters from around the country.

The Charlie Daniels Band, Saturday's headliner, is playing the festival for the third time.

"When the devil comes up to Sussex, look out. He can still rock out. And he's a gentleman and a real professional," Freeman said, of Daniels, 80.

The upstart Blackberry Smoke closes the festival on Sunday. "They're one of the biggest, new bands, so we've kind of come full circle," Freeman said.

This year's event returns to the roots of the pure southern rock and ribs festival that began eight years ago at Hidden Valley Resort in Vernon. In recent years, organizers tried splitting the music between southern rock and classic rock.

"I really thought this would be the perfect place to do classic rock," Freeman said, "but last year we had Kansas, one of the biggest classic rock acts of all time, and we didn't get the support from the public that I thought we would. We did a little survey and the people want southern rock. So we'll give them southern rock."

Camping has become a big draw for the festival since its move to the fairgrounds in 2014. Among the 15,000 to 20,000 people expected to attend, many will be occupying about 100 RVs and 250 tent campsites, according to Freeman.

And there will be entertainment Friday and Saturday nights just for those campers -- Old Man Skynnyr on Friday and The Steppin' Stones on Saturday.

"Great music, great food, craft beers, camping out and having an awesome time -- what better experience could a music fan have?" Freeman asked.

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